Five hundred jobseekers are being rapidly recruited and trained to support hospitality businesses facing current staff shortages.
Recruitment starts this week and runs until September, creating jobs for people whose employment has been hardest hit by the pandemic including women over 45, people from multicultural backgrounds, Aboriginal people, people with disability and young people.
However, Cunningham Hotel owner in Yarra Junction Gail Ketelaar wants to see other changes made.
“I think your staff are your best asset. If you train your staff well and look after them, they look after you, I don’t think that it should have to come from the government,” she said.
“We were kept down so long with density limits that had a major effect on all hospitality, snd that’s where things like work cover, payroll tax changes could alleviate some of those costs.”
Workers will receive 5 days paid hospitality training such as food handling, barista and responsible service of alcohol training, uniforms and tools of the trade.
It comes as the $60 million Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program – which offers consumers 25 percent back on dining and entertainment purchases – started on Tuesday 29 March.
The program is available to anyone with a valid Australian bank account, including Victorians, interstate travellers and international students. Each person can claim up to $125 in combined rebates for dining and entertainment. Rebates will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis until funds run out.
Hospitality businesses looking for staff and jobseekers looking to participate in the initiative can register their interest on the Jobs Victoria website by visiting www.jobs.vic.gov.au.
